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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Sports

World Cup begins amid football, music, and protests

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The 2026 North American World Cup kicked off in Mexico City with Mexico scoring the first goal just nine minutes into their match against South Africa.
  • The opening ceremony featured musical performances by artists including Shakira, Burna Boy, and J Balvin, alongside a cultural display.
  • Protests occurred around the stadium and in the Fan Fest zone, leading to clashes with police, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum attended the event at a sports center instead of the stadium.

The 2026 North American World Cup officially began on Thursday in Mexico City, marked by the roar of the crowd and the first goal of the tournament scored by Mexico just nine minutes into their match against South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca.

The opening ceremony captivated attendees with a vibrant display of music and culture. Colombian singer Shakira performed her song "Dai Dai" with Nigerian afrobeat artist Burna Boy, while other performers like Venezuelan pop singer Danny Ocean, Mexican group Los Ángeles Azules, and Colombian artists J Balvin and Ryan Castro also took the stage. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed the World Cup anthem, "DNA."

However, the festive atmosphere was marred by protests. Clashes erupted between demonstrators, demanding justice for the disappeared, and police in the vicinity of the stadium. In the Fan Fest at the Zócalo, a large crowd pushed through barriers to gain entry, with some fans throwing bottles and insulting police officers. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who had previously indicated she might not attend the stadium, was seen at a sports center in a popular area of the capital, wearing the national team's jersey.

Meanwhile, in Ecuador, President Daniel Noboa announced a 20% reduction in the price of beer for the duration of the World Cup, aiming to boost consumption of the popular alcoholic beverage.

Welcome to Mexico

— Ceremony narratorOpening words during the 15-minute inauguration ceremony.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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